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video game reviews

Is Our World is Ended Worth the $40 Price Tag?

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Our World Is Ended. on Steam to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Our World is Ended?

Our World is Ended is a visual novel out now on Steam.

A team of young developers is on the verge of a breakthrough with AR technology that will revolutionize the space. As they get busy with the development of their new game, they find that the line between the fantasy they’ve created through their games and reality has been skewed. Characters from their past games have invaded the real world and threaten its stability. It is up to the young developers to find out what is going on and put an end to it. Will they be able to save the world before it is too late?

Review

Our World is Ended is a niche title that isn’t for everyone. The novel has some cool art and a solid cast of voice acting, but the writing will make or break the story. I was not a fan of the perverted humor or overall tone of the story because it took away from a lot the more serious moments of the story. Characters are also poorly written. They aren’t deep and are very forgettable, unless they are the main source of humor. The main character is a very generic edgy anime main character which you will either find comforting or entirely grating. I found it hard to care about much of what he had to say because he isn’t interesting.

If you don’t mind the perverted humor and the edgy main character, the story is fine. You’ll enjoy some cool art and and the story is okay. Personally, there isn’t enough to this game or story for it to be worth $40. I would wait for a sale even if you enjoy this type of anime, and even then, you have better options.

video game reviews

Holy Shoot: An Early Access Roguelike Shooter Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Holy Shoot to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Holy Shoot?

Holy Shoot is an action roguelike first person shooter out on Steam Early Access.

Dive into the darkest reaches of Hell armed with only your gun, and any guns you find along the way. Upgrade your hero as you fight off endless waves of demons in this fast-paced adventure. Occasionally, bosses will make the rounds and give you a run for your money. Do you have what it takes to keep Hell under control, or will you be another lost soul victim to its unrelenting heat?

Gameplay

Players start off by playing Supersonic Samuel, but can unlock a second character through gameplay. Each character has access to unique kit of weapons and abilities to help them fight off demons. Players will pick up new weapons as random loot drops and buy from a random assortment of abilities between levels. During a run, players must clear each level of its demons to move on. Dying means starting the run over. Combat is straight forward. The game is a fast paced looter shooter and enemies all have weak points players can target to deal extra damage. The levels do seem to be randomly generated for a bit of variety, but there is a slight repetitive grind that gets easier the more you play and earn permanent upgrades.

Review

I understand the game is still in Early Access and try to be a bit more lenient. Out of the gate, I was impressed with the game’s artstyle. There is some fun whimsy in the character design and the world looks good. The game also has a solid sound track which is always nice. Playing my first few rounds reminded me of the time I spent blasting through the Borderlands series. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t leave much of impressions, especially against similar games I’ve played in the past.

The game plays with some interesting ideas. I like the idea of monsters having weakpoints for dealing extra damage. I also like the fast pace of the game. I also think the world and its monsters are fun and interesting. Unfortunately when the novelty wears off, the game becomes stale. The upgrades you get at each level are all the same or they feel the same. None of the upgrades I picked up felt like they made an impact and some of the weapons felt worse than the starter. I am sure the full game will give players access to more guns and abilities, but I don’t know if I want to wait that long. That said, it does look like the devs are working hard on making the improvements, and I am willing to try a more patched version of the game.

As it stands, whether or not you should try this game in Early Access really depends on how much you want to support the game’s development. While the game looks good, it clearly isn’t finished. The roguelike aspect seems solvable with the limited pool of upgrades and loot and the performance isn’t good. When compared to other similar games, you have better options. I would wait for a more patched version. If you want to support Holy Shoot in Early Access, you can pick up your copy for $19.99.

Tech Reviews

Epomaker Click Lite: The Best Budget Gaming Mouse

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Disclaimer

Epomaker sent me the Click Lite wireless gaming mouse to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. this will be my honest review. Make sure you also check out my reviews for the Split65 and the Tide Alice keyboards. Check out my newest sponsor, NordVPN if you’re looking for that service. I will also be using my Amazon Affiliate link where I can. it really helps me out if you use it.

What’s in the box?

  • Click Lite Wireless Gaming Mouse
  • 2.4 ghz Dongle
  • USB-C to USB-A Charging Cable
  • User Manual
  • Decals

Features

If you’re looking for a quality budget mouse, you’ll struggle to find one with more features than the Click Lite. This light weight mouse at only 59 grams and features a stylish design contoured to fit your hand. The mouse comes in black and white, and both look amazing.

The Click Lite comes with 5 programmable buttons that can be easily customized to include macros. The sensor can be easily customized to support 800 – 24000 DPI and a stable 1000Hz polling rate with 1ms latency for some unbelievable accuracy. Users can enjoy up to 72 hours of high-speed wireless and Bluetooth connections with its 500mAh battery life. While the mouse doesn’t have any RGB, users can enjoy some added customization with the included decals. If you’re looking for a quality budget gaming mouse, it doesn’t get much better than the Click Lite.

Review

Out of the box, users might be disappointed by the light weight. The mouse feels and looks like plastic, but it is well designed with clean manufactured pieces. I prefer heavier mice, so it took some time to adjust to the Click Lite. Once I did however, it became difficult to see a future where it wasn’t my daily driver. I was very impressed by how snappy and responsive the mouse is out of the box. Normally I spend time adjusting settings, but the Click Lite was essentially plug and play. I did mess around settings for testing and rebound some buttons for quality of life, but the mouse comes ready for most workflows. Over my use, I did not notice any dips in performance, and it was able to handle the different games I through at it. I play a lot of casual games, and it was able to handle Guild Wars 2.

One thing I did not like about the mouse is the included decals. They offer no texture and if you don’t put them on properly, it ruins the aesthetic. They are also starting to look dirty after only a week of use, but I guess it is a good thing they include two. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it looks better without the decals. I would have preferred they include grip tape because my hands get very sweaty, and the mouse gets a little slippery.

This mouse is not ideal if you are looking for ergonomics that won’t ruin your hands. It is comfortable enough for normal use and people who don’t suffer from the repetitive stress injuries, but it did start hurting after a while. This issue is very specific to me, and even then, I got enough use out of mouse to make it worth it. I won’t be using it for work to save my hands, but I will be keeping it around for gaming. I just like how good and snappy it feels when gaming.

If you’re looking for a solid mouse to upgrade your setup, get the Epomaker Click Lite. The mouse looks cool without the need of RGB, it is very responsive, and is comfortable enough for most cases. You can pick up the Click Lite on the official Epomaker store, or on Amazon through my affiliate link.

video game reviews

Inertial Drift Review: Unique Racing Experience

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Inertial Drift to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinion. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Inertial Drift?

Inertial Drift is a twin stick arcade racer out now on Steam.

Hop into a nostolgic future where racing is life. Get behind the wheel of your favorite car and master the drift. Take on foes, beat set course records, and become the best racer in town. When your rubber hits the concrete, will it only be headlights in the rear view mirror?

Gameplay

Inertial Drift has a story that takes you through different courses, mastering different techiniques that will make you the ultimate racer. Each course has three modes: time attack, ghost mode, and a 1v1 race to the finish. Each course has players master a new mechanic, keeping things fresh as players progress through the story. What makes Inertial Drift unique are its twin stick mechanics for drifting. It is something you need to try to understand, but it makes it a fun arcade racer.

Review

I don’t like racing games too much. I will play them and enjoy the easier levels before I lose interest and forget I have them in my library. I haven’t hit that point with Inertial Drift yet. While the game is a little hard for skill level, I am a terrible driver, I find it hard to set down.

Booting up the game, I fell in love with the vibrant neon colors and the retro aesthetic. I love the car designs, and the game has a killer sound track. The story itself isn’t anything too special, but it does give the game its flavor. The main reason I stuck around however is the gameplay.

Inertial Drift is one of the most unique arcade racers I’ve played. The controls may take some time to get used to, but once you figure out the mechanics, it has one of the most satisfying driving experiences. Everything feels fast, quick and epic. I got the feeling that I was a cool street racer even though I never got close to being good. Most importantly, it runs great on the Steam Deck. I loved being able to play this game on the go because it wasn’t a huge commitment and it was a ton of fun.

I do want to say that this game made me want to rewatch Initial D, and I’m loving every minute of it. If you are looking for a fun arcade racer with a unique twist and cool looking cars, go pick up Inertial Drift.

You can pick up Inertial Drift on Steam for $19.99.

video game reviews

Drakantos Closed Beta is Live: First Day Impressions

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Intro

The wait is finally over. After years of waiting and following this game, I finally got my hands on beta. The Drakantos closed beta will run from July 25 – 27th and it is looking like a very successful run. With over 150k applications for entry, this game is getting a proper test. Make sure you apply over on the official Steam page if you haven’t done so, and don’t forget to wishlist. It looks like they are still rolling out keys in waves. Make sure you also join the official Discord, you might get lucky with a giveaway.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Drakantos?

Drakantos is a free-to-play pixel-art MMORPG coming to Steam and mobile devices. Players can choose from a collection of 20 diverse heroes as they explore the world of Eldras. Players can enjoy the worlds facinating story, fight players in a competative PvP Arena, or help each other out on PvE content. There are plans for raids, world bosses, and everything you’ve come to love from a PvP, but accessible to everyone. One thing to note is that all characters will not be playable at first. Characters will need to be unlocked through play or a battle pass, but I hope that none of it is locked behind a pay wall. I was assured that the cash shop would only be cosmetic last I spoke to the devs, but we will have to wait and see. I’ve been covering this game in great detail for a while now, make sure you check out my other articles on the subject.

Impressions

I have beta test a few of the newer MMO’s in recent years, and none have gotten me as excited as Drakantos. I know I’ve only played the game a day, but I am prepared to spend my Saturday playing this game. I love how alive the game feels in the hubs and in missions, which gives me hope for its success. I love the art. The game does a good job of creating fantasy through its pixel-art, and it has been a lot of fun exploring the world. Some of the maps do feel a little busy, but its nothing that will get me to quit. Playing this game on the Steam Deck gives me the nostolgic feeling of the gameboy days I spent playing JRPGs, and I am here for it. The fact that I can play this game properly on the Steam Deck during a beta is also a huge plus. Everything feels snappy and optimized, and I am preferring the handheld experience.

The combat uses a simple cooldown system. Instead of mana, players will need to wait on cooldowns. While the game looks simple, there are some nuances in rotation, and some skills you need to aim or hold. Make sure you read your spells

The grind so far has been pretty fun. Players have story content to play through that slowly introduces different mechanics. There are also a few side quests to fill space and unlock more content like gathering. Mostly, players can queue up for random jobs that scale based on a player’s power level. These jobs rotate on a timer and randomly pairs players into teams of threes (unless you have friends). There are different types of quests that scale with your power level, and give loot. They make it beneficial to explore the whole map and kill everything with hidden chests and additional rewards. You get more loot the more enemies you kill. There is no PvP yet, which is fine for the beta.

Now it is only the first day, so I need a bit more time for a fuller picture. I will be doing a more detailed version of my impressions when the beta is over. For now, I am very excited to keep playing more. Now if you’ve made it this far in the article, I do have an extra key to give away. First person who contacts me, gets it. Good luck!

video game reviews

Honest Demo Impressions for Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi

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Disclaimer

I was sent the Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi demo for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. I understand this game is still in development and will try to be a bit more lenient with my criticism.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi?

Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi is a 3D puzzle adventure coming to Steam in August 21. You can request access to playtest as of the writing of this article.

Lili and Sadi must learn to work together to traverse across the fantastical world of Atarassia. The world is a dangerous place, but our heroes have the skills to survive it. Fight off monsters, destroy the darkness that corrupts the land, and solve a few puzzles in between. Can they push back the void’s corruption and save the world?

Gameplay

Players control a sword wielding guardian who can tap into her monk friends powers to traverse across the map, fight monsters, and solve puzzles. This is your typical 3D puzzle adventure, but it does very little hand holding. There is no markers on the maps. Players must explore to find clues and solve the puzzles on their own (or with a guide). The combat system is simple and reminiscent of games like Breath of the Wilds. Players have access to a melee attack, bow and arrow, and skills like a bomb ability.

Impressions

Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi is fine, but it feels like a Breath of the Wild clone, and that will really hurt it. The biggest issue I have with this demo is with the performance. Combat feels too clunky, and the abilities don’t feel impactful. The bow and arrow ability feels useless. This might be a skill issue, but it was more trouble than it is worth. I like that they make you aim the bow, but making it more stable is the move here. I know the game isn’t finished yet, so I can only hope the full version will have smoother combat.

Another issue with this demo is the tutorial. Some of the tips disappeared before I had a chance to read them, and there was no way of looking up the mechanic that I needed to progress through the game. Button mashing does nothing when the mechanic requires players to hold down a certain combination. Other tips are easily missed and if you don’t read them, you won’t pick up important mechanics. This game would benefit from having a section where players can look up tutorials.

The puzzles were also kind of boring, at least for the tutorial bits. If there aren’t engaging puzzles in the tutorial, this game is going to lose its player base before it can start unraveling its lore and world building. The world also feels empty. There was no reason for exploring because even though everything looked cool, there was nothing to do but follow the path to the next puzzle. Maybe the full game will have secrets and unlockables to promote exploration.

The game has a decent artstyle and concept, it just needs to run smoother for the launch. With launch date creeping up, I don’t think it will be possible. Unfortunately, Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi didn’t do enough to grab my attention. I am going to have to pass on it for now.

video game reviews

Why Citizen Sleeper 2 is the Best RPG of the Year

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Citizen Sleeper 2?

Citizen Sleeper 2 is a dice-driven RPG out now on Steam, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation.

You have made your grand escape and for the first time since you’ve been created, you are free. But freedom comes at a price. Your captures are hot on your trail, and there is rarely a place where a sleeper isn’t recognized. Gather your crew, upgrade your ship, and complete contracts as you travel across the Starward Belt, avoiding your pursuers. Will you ever be able to truly escape?

Gameplay

This is the closest you’ll get to a table top role playing game. During a cycle, players will have access to a dice pool they can spend on different checks. Checks will will progress the story, unlock new areas on a map, and generally allow players to complete actions. These checks are based on their stats in certain skills, and they can be failed. The outcome of the story is based on a players rolls and decisions, giving the game a good amount of replayability. Players will need to plan their days and missions properly because failing too much or taking too long has its consequences.

Review

I can’t believe I waited so long to play Citizen Sleeper 2. This is easily my favorite game of the year. I don’t think there can be a title that will beat the perfect gaming experience that is this game. If you like tabletop roleplaying games or text based rpgs, this is an excellent example of the genre. Everyone needs to play Citizen Sleeper at least once in your life, but you aren’t going to want to stop at one play through.

I have only played the sequel, and don’t think playing the first one is necessary. I am sure I missed a few references, but the story is pretty self contained and there is enough context to get me caught up. Don’t get me wrong. I will be playing Citizen Sleeper after this, and you should start at the beginning to get the whole story.

The story is fantastic. The writing is excellent and the adventure is full of agency, tension, and epic moments. If you enjoy RPGs, you will appreciate the difficult choices you will have to make, and the chance at failing the most critical moments. For those of you who can’t find a play group, or just want your TTRPG fix, this is a fantastic surrogate.

As far as gameplay goes, this has some fantastic mechanics that are engaging, but not so much that they take away from the story. I like the dice pull system, being able to push my rolls, and the gambling aspect of every choice. The chance of failure makes the successes more rewarding, while failing gives the story its intensity. It was very hard to pull myself away, especially since I had to keep reading till the next checkpoint. This game does not let you save when you want. Instead, you will need to read until you can go to your hub or your ship. This makes your choices matter, and it also means you will have to replay your game if you want to see different options. Make sure you choose carefully.

Citizen Sleeper 2 will pull you in with its beautiful art, powerful story telling, and solid mechanics. If you like TTRPGs or just want to sit back and enjoy a good story, it needs to be in your library.

You can pick up Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector on Steam, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation for $24.99.

video game reviews

Rhya’s Crusade Review: Retro Action Meets Hentai

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Rhya’s Crusade: The Aradia’s Reavers to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. This is an adult game with adult themes and nudity. You’ve been warned.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link. You can also always buy me coffee!

What is Rhya’s Crusade: The Aradia’s Reavers?

Rhya’s Crusade is a faithful nod to the classic action packed platformers like Contra or Megaman, but with a bit more nudity and sex.

The evil Demon Princess Aradia wants to take over the Galaxy, and it is up to one quirky archeologist to stop her. Equipped with the most advanced weapons and tech, Rhya must travel across an alien land, and fighting off the endless waves of her demon army. There are over six levels to explore, 7 bosses to defeat, and a bit of hentai in between. Can you master the weapons and unlock everything that needs to be unlocked, or will you be doomed to repeat the same levels without the sweet satisfaction?

Gameplay

Rhya is a love letter to the retro action platformer of the day. Players will travel across interesting lands, fighting off waves of enemies, and fighting their bosses with limited resources and health. Players will unlock new weapons and skills as they explore, and there is a fair amount of lore hidden throughout the levels. If you enjoy the art, and don’t mind the hentai, there is a bit of saucy content to unlock through gameplay. Dying however does mean starting the level over, and players will die a lot by design.

Review

Rhya’s Crusade: The Aradia’s Reavers is an incredibly niche game with a certain audience in mind. If you enjoy the difficulty of classic retro action platformers, and don’t mind all the hentai, you will enjoy this game.

Aesthetically, this game is great. The pixel art is solid, the monster design is interesting, and the world is vibrant and alien. There is also a great sound track to take you through the adventure. As far as gameplay goes, Rhya is the perfect love letter an important era in gaming history. The movement is snappy and responsive, the attacks are interesting, and the difficulty keeps things engaging. The difficulty will feel unfair to those uninitiated, but it isn’t impossible. You can lower the difficulty, but that means losing out on some saucy content. Unlocking things in this game feel like an achievement, but it also isn’t going to be for everyone.

The biggest issue I have with the game is that the hentai bits make it impossible to play in public. the death scene is very pornographic, and you are going to die a lot. All the unlockable content is also porn, so I wouldn’t play this around kids (or let your kids play this either). If you don’t mind the hentai, and some of it will be triggering, the gameplay isn’t bad. I wasn’t good at it, and it wasn’t for me, but it fills its niche well.

You can pick up Rhya’s Crusade: The Aradia’s Reavers on Steam for $14.99, but make sure you check out the Demo first.

video game reviews

Gaucho and the Grassland: A Cozy Adventure Farming Sim Review

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Gaucho and the Grassland to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link.

What is Gaucho and the Grassland?

Gaucho and the Grassland is a adventure farming sim out now on Steam. Make sure you check out the demo.

Your father was worked on keeping the balance between the spirit world and the human world. Since his death, this balance has shifted, creating a bit of chaos. Luckily, you are here to take the mantel and restore order. With a bit of guidance, travel across magical and diverse landscapes as you help locals, farm materials, and build your farm. Luckily, you have the help of your horse and dog companions. How much of the world order will you be able to restore?

Gameplay

There are two parts to Gaucho: the farm sim and the adventure game.

The farm sim is straight forward. Players collect materials and use them to craft, repair, and build the world around them. Players can buy land to build on, capture and keep animals, and help other citizens with their issues. Helping locals will earn favor that can be used to unlock other areas.

What makes Gaucho and the Grassland unique is that it has set goals. Players can spend time building their farm and crafting, but the game incentivizes exploration through its story and quest line. Players need to restore order by traveling to the different realms and completing its quest lines. Questing unlocks new buildings, items, and crafting recipes.

Review

Gaucho and the Grassland is my comfort game. It features a cute art style with a cozy gameplay loop that had me hooked out the gate. I love farming sims, and Gaucho has a lot of flavor with a few interesting mechanics that set it apart from others in the genre. The pet mechanics are my favorite, and I love that they are customizable with unlockable skins to work towards. Questing can feel a bit repetitive, but it is a very soothing form of repetition. Gaucho is easily one of my most relaxing titles in my library.

What I love about the game is that it gives players a bit of direction. Players have to complete quests to unlock resources, materials, and items they need for farming. There is nothing wrong with games give you the freedom to create your own content, but exploring the different realms, solving the different problems, and learning about the lore makes this game worth playing through once. If you don’t get distracted by how much there is to do in this game.

The game does need a bit of work. On PC, the performance was solid with a few glitches here and there. Nothing game breaking, but they were noticeable. The game doesn’t run well on the Steam deck. There were noticeable drops in frames that made the game look ugly. Turning the camera too close to trees caused the most issues. While the controls felt fine, and ideally I would prefer playing on handheld, the optimization isn’t there. It is playable, but the drastic dip in performance makes it difficult to go from PC to the Steam Deck. At least the sync works flawlessly.

That said, Gaucho and the Grassland is a cute and cozy farming sim that deserves more attention. It is a fun game with enough passion to give me faith that updates are coming, and the game will only get better.

You can pick up Guacho and the Grassland on Steam for $19.99. There is a demo available if you don’t believe me.

video game reviews

Is Bullet: Surge Worth Your Time? Gameplay Insights

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Disclaimer

I was sent a free copy of Bullet: Surge to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

Shameless Self-Promotion

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your aesthetic, check out my latest reviews for the Epomaker TH85, Epomaker HE68 Mag, Cypher81 or the KiiBoom Moonshadow V2. Check out my latest review of the Fifine M9 Microphone System and the Kiwi Ears Aventus Wireless Headset. If you’re buying anything from Amazon, feel free to use my affiliate link. It really helps me out if you do. If you’re looking for a VPN for some added protection, check out NordVPN through my affiliate link.

What is Bullet: Surge?

If you are familiar with the board game of the same name, now you can enjoy an automated experience with a neat animation, a fantastic soundtrack, and beautiful art. This fast paced puzzle game allows players to wield the unique powers as they build combos, explore the different heroines, and climb that leaderboard. Play solo as you try to get the high score in endless, or try to beat powerful bosses in boss mode. There is also an online PvP mode where you can battle it out against other fans of the game. What mode will you master?

Gameplay

The game offers a really good tutorial for people unfamiliar with the board game. Those familiar with the board game will appreciate the automation, and enjoy the faster pace. This is a game that you need to see and play for yourself to understand, but I will do my best. Players shoot different colored bullets randomly on a grid to generate action points. They use those action points to rearrange the bullets on a grid to perform abilities. Each heroine has a unique set of abilities that come in a form of a template, shapes that fit onto the grid. These templates will have specific requirements that need to be filled in order to activate. Once a player arranges the bullets to fit the requirements of template, it sets off the ability and sometimes removes bullets from the grid. If the gird fills, the player looses life until they hit zero and the game is over. It is a very simple looking game that will take some time to master, but it is such a rush when you figure things out.

Review

This game is an addition I did not plan on having. It took me a couple of tries to grasp the mechanics (I’ve never played the board game), but I am so glad I did. Right off the bat, the artwork is amazing. I love the vibrant colors and the character design. The soundtrack is amazing, and kept me hyped even when I was losing. As far as gameplay goes, everything runs smooth on PC. It does feel a little awkward on the Steam Deck, but nothing a couple of updates can’t fix.

Overall, Bullet: Surge is a fantastic puzzle game. The amount of strategy required kept me engaged, and the timer kept the intensity. I enjoyed both of the Solo modes, but I wasn’t good enough to try multiplayer. I enjoyed Endless mode because there was nothing to attack me and I could chill, even though I had to mind a timer. I enjoyed Boss mode because of the unique combat mechanics it implements. If you are enjoy puzzle games, this game is worth it for just the solo modes, but the PvP side is a nice bonus for the more competitive gamer.

There are some rules and mechanics that aren’t as nuanced. The tutorial does a good job at teaching players the mechanics, but game will take some time to get used to. If you try this game and don’t like because you don’t get it, take a break, watch a video tutorial, and try again. Once you start grasping even the fundamentals of this game, it becomes more than worth it.

Make sure you pick up Bullet: Surge on Steam for $15.99, and check out the demo if you need a bit more convincing.